Daily Current Affairs

April 5, 2025

Current Affairs

Aerosol Paradox: Why removing Aerosols can Heat up India

Context: Rapidly reducing aerosol emissions, without concurrently reducing greenhouse gas emissions, could expose a large fraction of vulnerable people in highly polluted regions of India to a sudden acceleration of warming and extreme heat.

Relevance of the Topic: Prelims: Aerosols: Role and Removal; Aerosols vs GHGs.  

What are Aerosols?

  • Aerosols are tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere. E.g., black soot, sulphur aerosols, sea salt, dust etc. 
  • Origin: 
    • Natural sources (such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and sea spray)
    • Human activities (such as industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and burning of fossil fuels).
  • Role of Aerosols:
    • Aerosols scatter solar radiation, thus, reducing the amount of heat reaching the Earth's surface.
    • They act as cloud-condensation nuclei and contribute to cloud formation and influence the water cycle.
Aerosolos and climate

What are Greenhouse Gases?

  • GHGs are gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to global warming.
  • Key GHGs: Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases.

Greenhouse Gases vs. Aerosols

  • GHGs trap heat and contribute to global warming, whereas aerosols can counteract this effect by reflecting sunlight.
  • GHGs have a long atmospheric lifespan- persisting for decades to centuries; their effects are global and long-term. Aerosols have a shorter lifespan compared to GHGs, meaning their effects are more immediate and localised.

Aerosols as Pollutants: 

While aerosols provide a temporary cooling effect, they also contribute to air pollution which has significant health and environmental repercussions. 

  • Coal-based thermal power plants in India contribute significantly to GHG, aerosol emissions and particulate matter pollution. 
  • Sulphur dioxide (SO2) emitted from coal combustion forms sulphate aerosols, which reflect sunlight and cool the atmosphere.

Impacts of Aerosol Removal from Environment

The removal of aerosols at its source to reduce pollution could inadvertently contribute to warming.

1. Aerosols affecting Temperature rise in India: 

  • Studies indicate that aerosols have masked a portion of the warming caused by GHG emissions.
    • Between 1906 and 2005, India warmed by 0.54°C, but the actual warming due to GHGs was around 2°C, with aerosols offsetting approximately 1.5°C.
    • If aerosols were not present, India would have experienced much greater warming.
  • The Ministry of Earth Sciences reported that India's average temperature rose by 0.7°C from 1901 to 2018, with GHG-induced warming being partially countered by aerosols.

2. Impact on Monsoon and Rainfall Patterns: 

  • Aerosols have played a role in decreasing Indian monsoon rainfall due to their cooling effect, especially in the Northern Hemisphere. Aerosols have a cooling effect by scattering sunlight. This results in reduced land-sea temperature contrast, which in turn results in a weaker South-West monsoon. 
  • The removal of aerosols may increase rainfall, but the resulting warming can cause erratic weather patterns, climate volatility and extreme events.

3. Global and Regional Implications of Aerosol Reduction: 

  • The impact of aerosols is not confined to national borders; changes in emissions in one region can affect distant locations. E.g., China's reduction in aerosol emissions intensified heatwaves along the west coast of North America.
  • Similarly, any significant increase in aerosols over India could negatively impact the hydrological cycle. The remote effects of aerosols must be considered when formulating climate policies.

Net-Zero Targets and Future Challenges: 

  • While reducing aerosols improves air quality and public health, it may also lead to a sudden increase in heat stress. Achieving net-zero emissions requires simultaneous reductions in both GHGs and aerosols. 
  • A gradual approach to aerosol reduction, coupled with aggressive GHG mitigation, is crucial for maintaining climate balance.

Need for Long-Term Adaptation Policies

  • Policymakers must prepare for the consequences of aerosol reduction by implementing robust heat action plans and comprehensive long-term strategies.
  • Future policies should consider the trade-offs between improved air quality, increased temperatures, and altered rainfall patterns.
  • Investment in urban planning, climate adaptation measures, and early warning systems will be essential.

A well-planned transition strategy is crucial to ensuring climate resilience while addressing pollution control measures effectively. Policymakers must balance short-term and long-term climate goals to protect vulnerable populations while mitigating global warming. 

Water levels in key reservoirs down below 40%

Context: As per the recent data from the Central Water Commission, India’s 161 major reservoirs dropped below 40% of the capacity at the end of March 2025, with the levels in 65 of them below 50%. 

Relevance of the Topic : Mains: Declining water levels in reservoirs - reasons and impact. 

Major Highlights

  • Water storage, in the 161 major reservoirs, had dropped to 72.91 billion cubic metres (BCM) of the 182.375 BCM capacity. It was still higher than last year and normal (last 10 years) levels. 
  • Barring the Central region, the level in the rest of the country was below 40% of the capacity. 
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Reason for Declining water levels

  • The decline in water level of reservoirs is attributed to deficient post-monsoon and winter rainfall affecting a large portion of the country. 
  • The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports that 83% of India experienced deficient rainfall from January 1 to January 24. This period has seen over 60% of the country receiving scanty or no rainfall.

Associated Concerns: 

This situation raises concerns about water availability for various sectors: 

  • Security of agriculture and food supply chain: Lower irrigation supply could affect the upcoming Kharif season, impacting food security.
  • Groundwater depletion: 80% of India’s irrigation depends on groundwater. With reservoirs (surface water) drying up, farmers are forced to pump more groundwater, leading to aquifer depletion.
  • Drinking water shortage: Many cities rely on reservoirs for drinking water. Declining levels can force water restrictions and impact daily life.
  • Reduced water levels can worsen the effects of droughts. 

Way Forward

  • Restoring the hydrological cycle and rejuvenating water bodies such as rivers, streams, lakes, storm drains and reservoirs. 
  • Encourage rainwater water percolation through soil layers and facilitate groundwater recharge. 
  • Use treated wastewater, modernisation of water courses, groundwater conservation and recycling of water. 
  • Improving efficiency of water use by adopting water use efficiency (WUE) measures and treating grey water in industries. Resorting to micro-irrigation, crop diversification, direct seeding of crops in agriculture.
  • Adopting the concept of water as an economic good. Water is considered as free, non-economic good such as air. The UN Dublin Principle 1992 emphasised on the importance of economic value of water in general and irrigation water in particular. 

Central Water Commission (CWC)

  • CWC is a premier Technical Organisation of India in the field of Water Resources.
  • Mission: To promote integrated and sustainable development and management of India's Water Resources by using state-of-art technology and competency and coordinating all stakeholders.
  • Functions: In consultation with the concerned State Governments, CWC initiates, coordinates and investigates implementation of the schemes for:
    • Control, conservation and utilisation of water resources throughout India.
    • Flood Control, Irrigation, Navigation, Drinking Water Supply and Water Power Development.

Also Read: List of Water Conservation Campaigns & Schemes 

What are Undersea Cables?

Context: Bharti Airtel has landed the 2Africa Pearls submarine cable in Mumbai in partnership with Saudi Arabia based digital infrastructure provider center3 and Facebook parent Meta. This will add 100 Tbps (terabits per second) capacity to India’s international bandwidth.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Optical Fibres.

Mains: India's undersea cable infrastructure - Significance, issues etc. 

Undersea Cables

  • Undersea cables (or submarine communications cables) are fiber-optic cables laid on the ocean floor, and used to transmit data between continents. These cables are the backbone of the global internet, carrying the bulk of international communications. Around 90% of data, 80% of world trade, and about $10 trillion of financial transactions, as well as secure government information, move through these cables.
  • Fiber-optic cables transmit data at the speed of light enabling Tbps capacity of data transfer, which is the fastest and most reliable method of data transfer available today, and can support thousands of telecom users.

Optical Fibres:  

  • Thin, flexible and transparent fibre made of glass (high quality silica) or plastic. 
  • It is used to transmit information, such as text, images, videos, etc. encoded as digital information or electromagnetic waves/light pulses almost at the speed of light.
image 13
  • Optical fibres utilise the phenomenon of total internal reflection for transmission across long distances with minimal loss of signal quality (low signal attenuation). 
  • Optical waves have high bandwidth, thus allowing a high data-transmission rate up to several hundred Gbps (gigabits per second of capacity) in a single fibre. 
  • The fibers are bundled and encased in protective layers designed to withstand the harsh undersea environment, including pressure, wear and potential damage from fishing activities. 
  • Along the route, repeaters are installed at intervals to amplify the optical signal and ensure data can travel long distances without degradation.
  • Optical Fibre cables are immune to electromagnetic interference, and less sensitive to external perturbations such as lightning and bad weather, unlike copper cables.

India’s Undersea Cable Infrastructure

  • India currently has 17 international cable systems, connecting to global networks with two major hubs of cable landing sites: Mumbai and Chennai.
  • India also has two domestic cable systems:
    • Chennai Andaman and Nicobar Islands (CANI) cable to provide high-speed connectivity to the islands. 
    • Kochi Lakshadweep Islands project. 
  • In 2025, three major subsea cable systems—2Africa Pearls, India-Asia-Express (IAX), and India-Europe-Express (IEX)— are projected to quadruple India's internet capacity. These cables will connect India to Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. 

Risks Surrounding Undersea Cable Deployment in India

  • Strategic risks: 95% of undersea cables pass through just a single 6 km wide area on the Juhu-Versova beach in Mumbai. India's reliance on a few key landing sites creates a single point of failure. 
  • Inadequate Infrastructure:
    • About 20% of global internet traffic is consumed or generated in India. To support that, India has only about 3% of global subsea cables. India has just 17 undersea cables, way fewer than even Singapore. 
    • At least 11 of India's cables are at the end of their average 25-year life today. (A  transoceanic cable system takes at least 5 years to build).
    • India does not have the requisite subsea cable repair ships and cable storage depot capacity. Consequently, India depends on foreign repair vessels with long permission processes for them to begin work in Indian waters.
  • Vulnerability due to global chokepoints: Most subsea cable routes follow strategic maritime  trade routes (choke points). E.g., If there is a disruption at the Red Sea, it would bring down 25% of India’s Internet. 
  • Regulatory Issues: Around 51 different permissions are needed to land a single cable. Involves approvals from departments such as: Telecom, Home Ministry, Environment Ministry, Fisheries, and local bodies. This bureaucratic red tape delays infrastructure rollout and deters global investors.

Way Forward: Bolster India’s Subsea Cable Infrastructure

  • Regulatory reforms: Simplify the permissions process through a single-window clearance mechanism. Encourage faster approvals for cable laying and foreign vessel entry for repairs.
  • Infrastructure diversification: Build more landing points outside Mumbai and Chennai (E.g., Gujarat, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh) to reduce concentration risk. Establish alternative routes that do not rely on high-risk regions like the Red Sea.
  • Domestic capabilities: Invest in India-owned cable repair ships and cable storage depots to reduce dependence on foreign repair vessels.
  • Strategic planning: Proactively commission cable capacity years in advance to match India’s fast-growing data consumption and Focus on secure corridors that avoid geopolitical hotspots.

Also Read: New cables to enhance India's Internet Connectivity 

India is at a critical juncture — with its digital economy booming, the demand for robust and redundant global connectivity is greater than ever. India needs reforms to bolster India’s submarine telecommunication cables which are the backbone of global communication. 

Impacts of Starlink-entry on India's Sovereignty

Context: The entry of Starlink, a satellite internet service owned by SpaceX, into the Indian market has raised significant questions regarding connectivity, digital sovereignty, and economic dominance. 

Relevance of the Topic : Mains: Impact of Starlink entry on India's sovereignty.

Satellite Internet

  • Satellite internet is wireless internet beamed down from satellites orbiting the Earth instead of optical fiber or mobile networks. India has regions where fiber optic cables have never reached and cellular towers remain sparse. 
  • Starlinkis a satellite network developed by the US private spaceflight company SpaceX to provide high-speed internet to remote locations. Recently, Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio have partnered with SpaceX to introduce Starlink's satellite-based internet services in India. It is not a zero-sum game for both sides.
    • For Airtel and Jio, Starlink allows them to provide high-speed Internet to India’s most remote regions without the infrastructure costs of terrestrial networks. 
    • For SpaceX, the deal opens up a huge market while also navigating India’s complex regulations by integrating Starlink’s technology with domestic partners.

Also Read: What is Satellite Internet? 

Geopolitical and Security Concerns:

Starlink's prospective operations in India have sparked discussions regarding potential for foreign-controlled satellite internet services to impact India's control over its digital infrastructure and data sovereignty. 

  • Foreign-Controlled Infrastructure: Starlink’s network is owned and operated by the U.S.-based company, raising concerns about India’s dependence on a foreign entity for critical communication infrastructure.
  • Strategic Risks: The ability of a private foreign company to control internet access could have national security implications. E.g., SpaceX has previously limited Ukraine’s access to Starlink during sensitive military operations, demonstrating its power over sovereign nations.
  • Geopolitical Alignments: Choosing Starlink over alternative options, including China’s GuoWang satellite network, signals India’s preference for a U.S.-led digital ecosystem over an authoritarian-controlled system.
  • Monopolistic Concerns: Starlink currently operates around 7,000 satellites, far outpacing competitors like OneWeb (650 satellites) and Amazon’s Project Kuiper (still in development). This gives SpaceX a dominant position in the low-earth orbit (LEO) internet market.
    • A monopolistic market structure could lead to pricing control, reduced competition, and limited leverage for host nations like India.
    • India’s long-term goal is self-reliance in satellite internet through ISRO. However, this requires significant investment and time, leading India to adopt a “managed dependency” approach.

Managed Dependency Model

  • Partnering with private firms while ensuring technology transfer and local data storage regulations can mitigate sovereignty concerns. Airtel and Jio’s involvement helps preserve some degree of national control.

India’s approach of integrating Starlink through domestic telecom companies provides short-term benefits but must be complemented by long-term investments in indigenous satellite technology to ensure true digital sovereignty. 

Rising Tensions in West Asia

Context: West Asia is home to some of the world's most complex geopolitical dynamics. The Trump administration, alongside Israel, is escalating tensions in West Asia by targeting Iran and its allied groups, while simultaneously attempting to negotiate a new nuclear deal.

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Key locations in West Asia; Axis of Resistance; JCPOA. 

Mains: Escalating Tensions in West Asia.

Iran and its Nuclear Aspirations

  • Iran’s nuclear program has been a major concern for the U.S. for decades. 
  • The U.S. wants Iran to give up its nuclear programme, restrict its conventional military capabilities and sever ties with the Axis of Resistance.  
  • Iran has only expressed willingness to engage in “indirect talks”, focusing only on the nuclear programme —essentially a return to the 2015 JCPOA framework.

About Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)

  • The JCPOA, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, was signed on July 14, 2015, between Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, plus Germany) along with the European Union.
  • Aim: To prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Key Provisions of JCPOA: 

  • Uranium Enrichment Limits: Iran agreed to enrich uranium only up to 3.67% , far below the 90% needed for weapons.
  • Reduction of Nuclear Stockpile: Iran had to reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium by 98% and limit it to 300 kg.
  • Centrifuge Restrictions: Iran could only use a limited number of first-generation centrifuges. Advanced centrifuges were prohibited.
  • Reactor Modifications: Iran agreed to redesign its Arak Heavy Water Reactor to prevent the production of weapons-grade plutonium.
  • Monitoring & Inspections: The IAEA was granted access to Iranian nuclear facilities to verify compliance.
  • Sanctions Relief: In return, the US, EU, and UN lifted economic sanctions, allowing Iran access to frozen assets and global markets.

Why was JCPOA Controversial?

  • While JCPOA restricted Iran’s nuclear programme, it left its nuclear processing capabilities, extensive ballistic missile programme and support for the axis of resistance untouched. 
  • Lifting economic sanctions on Iran under the JCPOA, in exchange allowed the country to rejoin the economic and diplomatic mainstream of West Asia, ultimately enhancing its strength as a conventional power — an outcome Israel found unacceptable.

US withdrawal from JCPOA and its consequences: 

  • In 2018, the US shared the Israeli narrative that the JCPOA was a flawed deal, and unilaterally withdrew from the agreement and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
  • In response Iran expanded its nuclear program, increased regional influence through proxies like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.
    • According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran now possesses enough stockpile of 60% enriched uranium to make six nuclear bombs if further enriched to weapons-grade purity (90%).

Key Developments in the West Asia in Israel's favour: 

In current scenario, Israelis are tightening the ring of fire around Iran after two key developments, which Israel thinks have shifted the regional dynamics in its favour:

  • Election of Trump as the US President: Trump unapologetically supports Israel’s war policies, and has given Israel the confidence to continue its mini-regional war without bothering about external pressure.
  • Fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria: Assad’s government was Iran’s only state ally in West Asia. It served as a land corridor between Iran, Iraq, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. With a Sunni Islamist government replacing Assad, this vital supply route has been severed, weakening Hezbollah and Iran’s regional influence.

With the axis weakened and the Assad regime gone, Israel thinks that the Iranian regime is more vulnerable today than at any time since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Axis of Resistance:

  • Informal military network of militant groups and state-controlled armed forces in the West Asia (Middle East) that are supported by Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). 
  • In addition to the IRGC, the axis comprises:
    • Hezbollah in Lebanon
    • Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza Strip and West Bank
    • Houthi forces in Yemen
    • Certain militias in Iraq.
  • Formed by Iran, it unites actors committed to countering the influence of the United States and Israel in the region.
image 12

Targeted Attacks on Iran’s Allies

The US and Israel are systematically targeting Iran’s regional allies, known as the “Axis of Resistance,” to weaken Iran’s influence : 

  • In Yemen: US launched pre-emptive airstrikes against Ansar Allah (Houthis) in March 2025, crippling their military assets.
  • In Gaza: Israel resumed its bombing campaign, killing over 400 Palestinians overnight, effectively ending the fragile ceasefire.
  • In Lebanon: In March 2025, Israel conducted its heaviest airstrikes since November 2024, targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure.

With Iran’s shrinking strategic space, Israel’s growing aggression and the near impossibility of diplomatic common ground between a hostile Trump administration and a wary Iranian regime, the risk of a large-scale military confrontation is today higher than ever. 

What is behind Nepal Protests?

Context: Recently, the worsening economic scenario in Nepal has led to protests and the demand for the return of King Gyanendra, the former monarch of Nepal, to power. In this context, let us see the political issues faced by the government of Nepal.

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: India-Nepal Relations: Basic Idea about state of events in Nepal.

Background

  • The recent protests in Nepal are rooted in growing dissatisfaction with the country’s political and economic trajectory since the abolition of the monarchy in 2008. 
  • When the monarchy was dissolved, Nepal transitioned into a federal democratic republic with the hope of fostering stability, economic growth, and inclusivity. 
  • However, over the years, successive governments have been plagued by corruption, inefficiency, and political infighting, leading to widespread disillusionment among the population.
image 5

Challenges to Democracy in Nepal

  • Political Instability: 
    • Nepal has seen over a dozen Prime Ministers in the last 15 years, preventing stable governance. Coalition governments are unstable due to power struggles, party infighting and frequent floor-crossing by lawmakers leads to a lack of policy continuity.
    • The electoral system encourages fragmentation of political parties, making it hard to form a majority government.
  • Weak Institutional Structure and Governance:
    • Judiciary interference: Politicisation of the courts has weakened judicial independence. It is seen that the judicial decisions have often favored those in power.
    • Bureaucratic inefficiency: Nepali bureaucracy is slow, unresponsive, and burdened by political appointments.
    • Delayed implementation of federalism: Though Nepal adopted federalism in 2015, power remains concentrated in Kathmandu, and provincial governments lack resources and autonomy.
  • Ethnic and Identity-Based Conflicts: 
    • The Madhesi movement (2015-16) protested against the new constitution, arguing that it marginalises their political representation.
    • Janajati (indigenous) communities continue to demand proportional representation and land rights. E.g., The 2023 protests against renaming Province No. 1 as "Koshi" turned violent, highlighting the ongoing ethnic and linguistic tensions. 
  • Electoral Manipulation: Vote-buying and electoral fraud events have been seen in past elections, undermining fair elections and post-election horse-trading leads to unstable coalition governments.
  • Corruption and poor governance: Nepal ranks poorly in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. Corruption scandals in infrastructure, education, and healthcare reduce public trust in democracy.
  • Foreign influence in Nepal’s politics: Nepal is sandwiched between India and China, leading to significant external influence.
    • While India has historical ties and economic leverage, China has increased its investments in Nepal, influencing politicians and civil society.
    • The U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant named Nepal Compact faced massive protests in 2022, with some fearing it would compromise Nepal’s sovereignty.
    • Nepal struggles to maintain a balanced foreign policy while protecting its sovereignty.

Thus, Nepal’s democracy remains fragile due to internal instability, weak institutions and corruption. While the 2015 Constitution provided a framework for federalism and inclusive governance, its slow implementation, coupled with rising political tensions, threatens democratic progress. 

Global Risk Report 2025: Misinformation & Disinformation

Context: The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025 underscores misinformation and disinformation as the highest ranked short-term global threat. 

Relevance of the topic:

Prelims: Global Risks Report 2025.

Mains: Issues related to misinformation and disinformation and solutions.

Global Risks Report 2025

  • Annual Report released by World Economic Forum (WEF).
  • Global Risks Initiative is the WEF's principal platform to monitor critical global risks facing economies and societies.

Highlights of the latest Report:

1. Current Risk Landscape 2025: 

image 9

2. Short-term Risks (2 years):

image 10

3. Long-term Risks (10 years): 

image 11

Misinformation and Disinformation as the Highest ranked Short-term Global Threat

1. Misinformation vs Disinformation:

  • Misinformation refers to false or misleading content shared without harmful intent.  
  • Disinformation is the spread of false or misleading content with the intent to deceive or gain economically or politically, causing public harm. 
image 4

Challenge of Misinformation and Disinformation

  • India, with over 900 million internet users, is highly vulnerable due to its diverse political and social landscape, making it a target for manipulated narratives, voter influence, and economic disruption.
    • AI-generated content, deep fakes, and algorithm-driven echo chambers have made it increasingly difficult to distinguish truth from deception.
    • It erodes informational integrity and threatens democratic institutions, public trust, and social cohesion. 
  • Decline of trust in legacy media has led to increased reliance on social media, where unverified information spreads easily. Political parties, national figures, and foreign actors like China exploit this to push misinformation, as seen in the Doklam standoff and ongoing disinformation campaigns.
    • A study by the Indian School of Business and CyberPeace Foundation found that 46% of misinformation is political, followed by general (33.6%) and religious (16.8%) content.

Recommended Solutions

  • Global Risks Report 2025 recommends measures such as:
    • Upskilling developers working with algorithms. 
    • Improving public awareness and digital literacy. E.g., RBI’s Financial Literacy Campaign.
    • Ensuring accountability through supervisory boards and AI councils to oversee Generative AI practices.
  • Policy Changes: With almost 400 million Facebook and over 500 million WhatsApp users, India stands as the largest market for social media platforms. By capitalising on this market power, regulatory bodies can push big tech towards positive policy changes to tackle disinformation. E.g., Audits and transparency actions for Very Large Online Platforms with more than 45 million users, similar to the EU’s Digital Services Act.
  • Regular risk assessment: Platforms should be mandated with regular risk assessment.
  • Adequate funding should be allocated for advancing cybersecurity research and innovation.
  • Regulation of Online ads: Online ads must disclose funding sources and target audiences to prevent malicious actors from spreading false narratives.
  • Encouraging independent research on disinformation, along with stronger laws to protect independent journalists.
  • Collaboration among civil society groups, fact-checkers, and regulators to create evidence-based policies for information integrity.
  • Establish crossborder coalitions for a coordinated global response.

India being world’s largest democracy must act urgently to come up with important policy changes on the line of the European Union’s Digital Services Act to combat Disinformation and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI). However, caution is necessary to prevent surveillance and censorship risks. 

Time to Establish All India Judicial Service

Context: The recent controversies surrounding the judiciary, including allegations of corruption, opaque judicial appointments, and questionable judicial decisions have reignited the debate on Judicial Accountability in India. 

Relevance of the Topic: Mains: All India Judicial Service: Need, Advantages and Disadvantages.

Issues in the Current Judicial Selection System: 

  • Allegations of Corruption: The discovery of half-burnt currency notes at the residence of a Delhi High Court Judge has raised serious concerns about financial misconduct within the judiciary. Unlike other public officials, judges are not subjected to immediate legal action like filing of FIR, leading to apprehensions of bias and selective approach to judicial accountability. E.g., Justice Soumitra Sen, who was impeached for financial misconduct only after prolonged proceedings.
  • Opacity in the Collegium System: The Collegium system, where judges select other judges, has become a subject of criticism for lack of transparency, nepotism, and favoritism. E.g., Justice Ranjan Gogoi sexual harassment case, where an internal Supreme Court panel cleared him without an independent review, led to public outrage.
  • Lack of Diversity and Representation: The higher judiciary lacks diversity, with low representation of women, marginalised communities, and candidates from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. E.g., As of 2024, only 3 out of 34 Supreme Court judges are women, highlighting gender disparity in judicial appointments.

Proposal for Indian Judicial Service (AIJS)

  • One proposed solution is the establishment of an All India Judicial Service (AIJS), modeled after other civil services like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS).
  • AIJS aims to establish a competitive and transparent selection process for the appointment of judges at the national level, ensuring judicial accountability and efficiency.
Constitutional Provision: 

Article 312 of the Constitution provides for the establishment of All India Judicial Service (AIJS), which shall not include any post inferior to that of a District Judge. 

Advantages of AIJS

  • Merit-based and transparent selection: AIJS would ensure judges are selected through an open and competitive examination, reducing nepotism and favoritism in judicial appointments. The recruitment process would be handled by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), ensuring fairness.
  • Greater inclusivity and representation: A national-level selection system would bring in candidates from different social, economic, and regional backgrounds. It would address the issue of low representation of marginalised communities and women in the judiciary.
  • Stronger oversight and accountability: Judges recruited through AIJS could be subjected to periodic performance reviews and ethical oversight, ensuring integrity and discipline. E.g., In Germany, judges undergo structured civil service evaluations, maintaining judicial accountability and high professional standards.

Disadvantages of AIJS

  • Dilution of Separation of Powers: The creation of AIJS can blur the constitutional boundary between the executive and judiciary. It empowers the Union executive to influence judicial appointments, reducing the autonomy of the judiciary in state matters.
  • Undermines federal structure: Judicial recruitment is a State subject under the constitutional scheme. Centralising the process undermines the principle of federalism and erodes states’ autonomy in administering justice.
  • Threat to Judicial independence: Traditionally, higher judiciary evaluates and appoints the lower judiciary, ensuring accountability within the institution. A centralised service may lead to external control over the judiciary, compromising its independence.
  • Opposition from Bar Associations: AIJS entrants will have a faster track to higher judiciary posts, bypassing experienced local advocates.
  • Lack of consensus: Disagreements persist over eligibility criteria, age limits, qualification requirements, and implementation of reservations.
  • Exclusion of State-Specific backward groups: Centralised reservation lists may not include communities listed as OBC/SC/ST in state lists. As a result, marginalised groups in specific states may lose representation in the judiciary.
  • Local language barrier: Judicial officers selected through AIJS may not be proficient in regional languages. This can hinder communication with litigants and affect the quality of justice delivery at the district level.
  • Not a complete remedy: Also, the creation of AIJS will not address the structural issues plaguing the lower judiciary.

Way Forward

  • Balanced Judicial Appointments with Greater Transparency: There is a need to establish a Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) that includes representatives from the judiciary, executive, and civil society. Furthermore, transparent selection criteria and public disclosure of appointments, rejections, and reasons behind judicial decisions need to be given to uphold confidence in the judiciary.
  • Strengthening Judicial accountability: Implement periodic performance reviews and ethical oversight for judges. Set up an independent monitoring body to handle complaints related to judicial misconduct and financial irregularities.

Establishing the All India Judicial Service (AIJS) could be a transformative step in enhancing judicial accountability, ensuring merit-based appointments, and improving public confidence in India’s judiciary. 

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